Staff
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Tavae SamueluExecutive Director
Tavae Samuelu is the Executive Director for Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC). As the Executive Director, Tavae provides strategic oversight towards realizing EPIC’s mission to promote social justice by engaging the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities through culturally-relevant development, advocacy, and research. She’s passionate about liberation work and supporting the political consciousness and growth of youth. Tavae was born and raised in Long Beach, CA, and moved to the Bay to attend Cal where she majored in Ethnic Studies. Before joining EPIC, she served as the Development Director for the RYSE Youth Center in Richmond and has since become a member of RYSE’s Board of Directors.
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Sina UipiPolicy Associate
Sina Uipi is the Washington, DC-based Policy Associate. In this role, Sina leads EPIC's national policy and advocacy efforts towards the organization's mission to advance social justice and increase the political power of NHPI communities. She is thrilled to bring greater awareness to Pacific Islander needs at the national level. As a proud product of the California public education system, Sina earned her BA at SFSU in Political Science, including two minors in Counseling and Women and Gender Studies. She was raised in the LA area, and is a first generation Tongan American daughter to her parents and a community who has helped shape the advocate she is today. Prior to joining EPIC, Sina was a Senior Civil Rights Fellow at OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, where she focused on policy priorities such as Education, Immigration, Census, and Technology/Workforce Development.
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Natasha SaeluaLead Researcher
Natasha Saelua is the Lead Researcher for EPIC. In this role, Natasha collects, records, and disseminates knowledge for and about the NHPI community by directing key projects and building partnerships with academic institutions. Her passions include Pacific Islander cultures and histories, culturally relevant education, and community empowerment. Born and raised a military brat, she attended high school in the Bay Area before attending UCLA, for her bachelor's, and later on, master's degree. Prior to this, she served as a founding board member for EPIC, while working in student affairs at UCLA's Community Programs Office. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education at Indiana University.
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